Safety at the Center

• Medical care is at least an hour away from the Taft-Nicholson Center. We heavily emphasize preventative care and safety awareness. Please bring your medications, and tell your instructor in advance about any allergies or health conditions. If an injur or medical concern arises, immediately tell your instructor and/or Center staff. All staff members are certified in Wilderness First Aid and the office is equipped with first aid supplies.
• Upon your arrival, we will review our emergency response plan and provide additional detailed safety guidelines.
• Use of the firepit must be cleared with Center staff before dinnertime. A staff or faculty member must be present at all times and will be responsible for ensuring campfires are extinguished.
• Plan for altitude and sun. At an elevation of 6,600 ft, the sun burns and dehydrates quickly. Nights can also be chilly. Bring sunscreen, a canteen, and layers of clothing.
• On your first night, we will discuss bear safety and other Center protocols. Bear spray is provided and required on all field excursions.

Food and lodging

• Please inform your instructor of any dietary restrictions or allergies at least two weeks prior to your arrival on site to ensure our chef is able to plan accordingly.
• Bring snacks and beverages! There is a refrigerator in the University Village kitchen, as well as in our new dorm, and our rustic cabins each have their own mini fridge. It isn't possible to make a quick trip to the store, so plan carefully for the duration of your stay.
• Lodgings include:

  • Student Dorm
    Our new 19-bed dorm will open for the 2026 season. Bring a sleeping bag and pad, a towel, and toiletries.

    University Village
    The cabins in the University Village cabins are provided with a cot and a desk. Bring a sleeping bag and pad, a towel, toiletries and a pillow. Your sleeping pad will provide additional insulation on the cot.

    Rustic Cabins
    The Rustic Cabins are supplied with bedding and towels. Bring your own toiletries. If you are staying only a few nights, we encourage you to bring a sleeping bag and towel to decrease washing water use and aid in our sustainability efforts. 

     

Sustainability

• Given our organizational purpose and our location, it is both sustainable and practical to limit the amount of trash we generate. This includes not supplying single-use bottles on campus.
• We recycle plastic bottles (#1 and #2 plastics only), aluminum and tin cans, and paper by driving them out of the Valley to the nearest recycling center. There are no nearby glass-recycling facilities. Please bring any glass out with you and recycle them back home.

Packing list

• If in dorms: Sleeping bag
• If in University Village: Pillow, sleeping bag and pad
• Towel
• Toiletries, personal items, and medicine
• Water bottle
• Sun screen
• Bug spray
• Sturdy, closed-toe shoes
• Backpack or daypack
• Rain jacket
• Layers for sun and bug protection (pants and long sleeve shirt)
• Layers for warmth (a hat, gloves and warm jacket). Days here are sunny but nights can be cold, and weather often changes quickly
• Flashlight or headlamp

• Any additional items required by instructor

Recommended

• Sunglasses and/or hat
• Camera

• Binoculars

Optional, with instructor approval

• Fishing gear W/Montana permit
• Swimsuit
• Bicycle

Download packing List

Communication

• Cell phone service is not available at the Center, or in most of Centennial Valley.
• Wi-Fi is available in the meeting hall. Messaging and video chat apps suite most people’s communication needs, and most smartphones are capable of being set up for Wi-Fi calling.
• If needed, a land line is available in the visitor center.

We encourage our guests to appreciate the opportunity to disconnect, and to use communication services sparingly. 

• We strongly suggest vehicles with high clearance and 4WD (i.e. SUVs) to maximize available excursions around the Valley.
• Gas up before entering the Centennial Valley. If you're coming from the the west (I-15), fill up in DuBois or Idaho Falls. From the east, fill up in West Yellowstone or Island Park.
• There is no cell service in the Valley. Please call the visitor center when you get gas. It helps us know when to expect you. Leave a message with your name, time, and location so we can be on the lookout. Office Phone: 406-276-3320
• Be aware that South Valley Road is a well-maintained dirt road. Although the posted speed limit is 45 mph, we strongly recommend driving 35 mph. Driving more slowly reduces your chance of a flat tire (a common occurrence) and demonstrates respect for both wildlife and Valley residents.
• If you are driving a personal vehicle, please wash the underside of your vehicle before entering Centennial Valley to reduce the spread of noxious weeds, which can be harmful to wildlife, livestock, and the ecosystem. These seeds often hitchhike on tires and in wheel wells. 

Detailed driving directions can be found on our website. However, searching Lakeview, MT on a navigation app will also work. Please note that you will likely lose cell service before you get to the exit for Centennial Valley.

• If you leave the property, whether hiking or driving, you must write down your travel plans on the office whiteboard and tell a peer. Traveling in groups is recommended.

• Possession or distribution of alcoholic beverages by underage students is not allowed per University policy and Utah and Montana state laws. Alcohol misuse and abuse will not be tolerated.
• Possession and use of illegal drugs and smoking within 50 feet of buildings are forbidden
• Permission from faculty and Center staff must also be granted for the following activities: use of Rosie’s Cantina, climbing the fire tower, and leaving the Center.
• We strive to be good neighbors to the Red Rock Lakes Wildlife Refuge staff. Quiet hours begin at 10PM.
• Children under the age of 18 are not allowed as overnight guest at the Center
• Guests are not allowed to bring pets to the Center